Classic Recording Studio Gear

Vintage Digital

Digital Processors

Digital Processors are a key component in music creation and come in one of two forms; an analogue to digital converter, or a digital to analogue converter. In some cases a single device will do both and are considered digital processors. The quality of these processors ultimately determines the final sound quality of the music run through them.

Released in 1977
The Sony PCM-1, launched in September 1977, was Sony’s first consumer PCM processor, setting the standard for digital audio devices despite its high price of 480,000 yen and limited sales of around 300 units worldwide.
Released in 1978
The Sony PCM-1600 was the first commercially available professional 16-bit digital audio processor for two channel mastering with the first machines delivered in April of 1978.
Released in 1980
The genuine advantage of the Sony PCM-1610 digital audio processor is its enormous potential to deliver drastically improved sound. Whereas analogue recorders are saddled with performance limitations of one form or another, unlimited quality improvement is possible using digital technology.
Released in 1980
The Sony PCM-10 Digital Audio Processor is a rather elusive piece of audio technology.
Released in 1980
The Sony PCM-100 Digital Audio Converter is a rather elusive piece of audio technology.
Released in 1981
The Sony PCM-F1 is a groundbreaking digital audio processor that delivers superior sound quality, versatility, and portability, setting new standards in the digital recording industry.
Released in 1985
The Sony PCM-1630 was used for mastering audio CDs in the mid 1980s and onwards, by most of the major record labels around the world. It was an essential part of early digital audio disc production and was responsible for hundreds of classic albums being put to CD.
Released in 1989
In the world of professional audio, the introduction of the dCS 900 in 1989 marked a significant milestone. Digital audio was still in its relative infancy, and the demand for high-quality analogue-to-digital conversion was growing. The dCS 900 came as a response to this need, setting a new standard for digital audio converters with its innovative technology and precision.
Released in 1994
The Sony K-1203 Super Bit Mapping Processor was a digital processing unit that was unique to Sony, and it enabled conversion of higher than 16-bit signals to 16-bit without audible loss.
Released in 1998
Apogee DA-2000 Studio Reference Standard Digital to Analog Converter – Switcher represents a milestone in digital conversion technology. Contained within the design are technologies that Apogee pioneered, such as low jitter clocking and critically matched filter designs.
Released in 1999
The Apogee AD-8000 is an eight-channel 24-bit A/D converter with extensive I/O and processing features and an extensive, accessible user interface.
Released in 1999
The Alesis AI-3 is an affordable interface for converting analogue to digital audio using ADAT Optical. It has eight inputs and outputs, 24-bit converters, and integrates with ADAT-compatible devices. Compact and easy to use, it fits into a 19″ rack and adds analogue I/O to digital mixers from various brands.
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